Although it dominated the first part of the match, CFR Cluj failed to score. When he did it was too late

Although it dominated the first part of the match, CFR Cluj failed to score. When he did it was too late

The University of Craiova defeated CFR Cluj with a score of 2-1 (1-0), on Saturday evening, away, in a match from the first stage of the play-off phase of the football Superleague.

Photo: sportpictures.eu

Ştefan Baiaram (38) and Alexandru Mitriţă (51) scored for the winners, while the goal of the team coached by Adrian Mutu was scored by Matei Ilie (66).

Cluj dominated authoritatively in the first half hour and created several great goalscoring opportunities, but the goalkeeper Laurentiu Popescu was masterful. The guests' goalkeeper stood out for Matei Ilie's header (8), for Daniel Bîrligea's restart (14), but also for the same player's shot (33). The Croatian defender Juraj Badelj also had a providential intervention on the lobe of Philip Otele (28). Nicusor Bancu was even close to an own goal (29), after another corner executed by Ciprian Deac, sending the ball into the bar of his own goal.

The university managed to get out from under the pressure of the hosts and had a good opportunity through Alexandru Creţu (36), with a shot from about 25 meters, rejected by Răzvan Sava. The Craiovians opened the scoring against the course of the game, in the min. 38, when Bancu shot from the left side, Sava rejected, and Baiaram resumed with his head in the net. Andrei Ivan also had a notable chance (45+1), but his drop shot went a little wide.

At the beginning of the second half, the guests doubled their advantage: the Georgian Mekvabişvili recovered a ball and launched it to Alexandru Mitriţă, who overtook Matei Ilie and scored (51).

CFR attacked with all its might, but did so uninspired, rarely creating danger at Popescu's goal. Muhar shot from the fall, but over the goal (54), and Baiaram (55) responded immediately with a shot that went past Vinclu. The hosts reduced the difference in min. 66, through Matei Ilie, with a header, at a corner executed by Deac. Matei Ilie was eliminated at the end (87), after a hard tackle on Jovan Markovic.

In the regular season, in Cluj Napoca the score was equal, 1-1, and the University prevailed in Craiova with 1-0.

The university reached eight consecutive matches without defeat, five wins and three draws.

CFR was coming after five stages without failure, three wins and two draws. CFR had lost only one match at home this season, with Rapid (0-1).

FC CFR 1907 Cluj – Universitatea Craiova 1-2 (0-1), Stadium ''Dr. Constantin Rădulescu'' – Cluj-Napoca They scored: Matei Ilie (66), respectively Ştefan Baiaram (38), Alexandru Mitriţă (51). Red card: Matei Ilie (CFR, 87).

Referee: Andrei Florin Chivulete (Bucharest); assistant referees: Mihai Marius Marica (Bistrita), Andrei Constantinescu (Bucharest); fourth official: Marius Omuţ (Satu Mare) Video referee: Florin Andrei (Târgu Mureş); video assistant referee: Alexandru Vodă (Alba Iulia)

Observers: Iosif Olah (Sfântu Gheorghe) – CCA, Ioan Mironaş (Piatra Neamţ) – LPF

Adrian Stoica

Adrian Stoica

Adrian is the founder and the visionary behind Cluj Napoca, a media platform committed to capturing and sharing the vibrant stories of Cluj-Napoca and Romania with an international audience. A graduate in international journalism from the University of Bucharest and holder of a Master’s in Cultural Studies from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Adrian has a robust educational background that equips him to understand and analyze the complexities of his native region's culture and history.